Ice Dams

The cause of ice dams are sometimes a little more difficult to pinpoint and can occur on homes that appear to be well insulated and ventilated. The following conditions can also cause ice dams.•A poor attic insulation system (or thermal boundary) allows heat to escape into the unheated attic space.•Most ice dam formations are easy to eliminate by properly ventilating and insulating to R-49. •Exterior electrical heat cables do not prevent an ice dam from occurring. They are a reactive measure that does not address the cause of the ice dam formation.

The illustration on the left shows what happens when melting snow above heated areas of the roof reach the cooler (unheated) roof sections.

Ice dams that build up on overhangs and around gutters can result in extensive damage to your structure and endanger the safety of your family or customers.

Ice Dams

The cause of ice dams are sometimes a little more difficult to pinpoint and can occur on homes that appear to be well insulated and ventilated. The following conditions can also cause ice dams.•A poor attic insulation system (or thermal boundary) allows heat to escape into the unheated attic space.•Most ice dam formations are easy to eliminate by properly ventilating and insulating to R-49. •Exterior electrical heat cables do not prevent an ice dam from occurring. They are a reactive measure that does not address the cause of the ice dam formation.

Ice Dams

The cause of ice dams are sometimes a little more difficult to pinpoint and can occur on homes that appear to be well insulated and ventilated. The following conditions can also cause ice dams.•A poor attic insulation system (or thermal boundary) allows heat to escape into the unheated attic space.•Most ice dam formations are easy to eliminate by properly ventilating and insulating to R-49. •Exterior electrical heat cables do not prevent an ice dam from occurring. They are a reactive measure that does not address the cause of the ice dam formation.

The illustration above what happens when melting snow above heated areas of the roof reach the cooler (unheated) roof sections.

Ice dams that build up on overhangs and around gutters can result in extensive damage to your structure and endanger the safety of your family or customers.